Need high performance on a budget? These are the phones you should buy

If you’re in the marketplace for a new cellphone and have $500 or much less to spend, there are loads of strong choices this yr. At the greater finish, we’ve got the Google Pixel 9a and Nothing Phone 3a Pro. If you’re trying to save a bit extra with out sacrificing too many specs, the Samsung Galaxy A36 5G and the customary Nothing Phone 3a are robust contenders. Below that, ultra-budget selections like the Moto G sequence nonetheless have their place. While these phones differ in some ways, one key space to focus on at this worth level is the processor.

Thankfully, finances chips aren’t as sluggish as they was, however selecting a high-performance processor remains to be a good transfer. Who is aware of what apps, video games, or options your cellphone may have to deal with years down the line? Software help now stretches to 4 years or extra—however the {hardware} must sustain, too. Planning forward can save you each cash and frustration later on.

Here are the key performance specs for these budget-friendly phones so you can see what your cash buys.

There’s a wholesome mixture of chips right here, however the standout is clearly the Google Pixel 9a with its flagship-grade Tensor G4 processor. To discover related performance elsewhere, you’d must spend extra on gadgets like the iPhone 16e or Galaxy S24 FE. Naturally, it’s not truthful to anticipate a $200 cellphone to compete with a $500 one, however the actual query is whether or not the extra reasonably priced fashions supply sufficient performance to be a good long-term buy—or if you’re higher off spending a bit extra now for future-proofing. Let’s dive into the benchmarks.

I’ve included the PCMark Work 3.0 check to spotlight that each one 4 phones (and their siblings) deal with on a regular basis duties—like doc modifying, picture manipulation, and net searching—pretty nicely. Even the ultra-affordable Moto G performs decently for the fundamentals. However, relating to extra demanding CPU duties, GeekBench 6 outcomes present clear variations.

The Pixel 9a leads the pack right here, due to its Tensor G4 chip (practically an identical to the one in the premium Pixel 9 Pro XL), which options a highly effective Cortex-X4 core and better clock speeds. If you need top-tier performance and long-term help, the Pixel 9a is the Android cellphone to beat, although it’s additionally the priciest on this listing at $500.

The Nothing Phone 3a is available in second place, and we had good issues to say about its performance in our evaluate, too. Its Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 chip outpaces the Galaxy A36 5G whereas costing a bit much less, so main factors there. It’s nonetheless behind the Pixel, however its 15% higher single-core and 12% higher multi-core scores in comparison with the Galaxy may actually make all the distinction a few years down the line.

In our Galaxy A36 5G evaluate, we famous that whereas Samsung presents six years of software program updates, the cellphone’s performance doesn’t really feel prefer it’ll comfortably match that long-term promise, and our benchmarks recommend the identical. Especially in comparison with the Pixel 9a, which isn’t that rather more costly. Samsung’s One UI goodies to convey the chip to a halt, and it’ll undoubtedly really feel much more sluggish earlier than help ends, making it a good instance of why performance issues for longevity.

Similarly, the Moto G Stylus (2025), with the identical Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 chip and a $400 price ticket, is consultant of recent reasonably priced phones — satisfactory, however not distinctive.

Graphics benchmarks inform nearly the identical story. The Pixel 9a simply outpaces the competitors with as much as 2.5x the peak performance, making it a robust alternative for cell avid gamers on a finances. Google’s chip may not high charts in the premium area, however the 9a is clearly powerhouse for the worth.

The Nothing Phone 3a sequence additionally shines right here. Its Snapdragon 7s Gen’s Adreno 710 GPU, clocked greater than the Snapdragon 6 Gen 3’s, beats each the Galaxy A36 5G and Moto G Stylus. It’ll maintain up for informal gaming as we speak, however could begin to wrestle with newer, graphics-intensive titles or high-end emulation down the highway. Still, that enhanced clock velocity means it’ll maintain up higher than the competitors in years to return.

In any case, if gaming is on your radar, the Pixel 9a is the clear winner at this worth.

The Pixel 9a is the greatest performer on this listing, however it’s additionally the costliest. But with performance that always doubles its opponents, it’s price the additional $100 if you need a cellphone that’ll final. That stated, if you should spend much less, the Nothing Phone 3a is a improbable various. It performs practically in addition to the Pro mannequin, edges out the Galaxy A36 5G, and presents comparable long-term software program help.

Of course, performance isn’t the whole lot. Each of those phones has its strengths, from the Galaxy A36 5G’s quick charging to the 3a Pro’s extra superior cameras. If you’re prepared to spend extra, the OnePlus 13R or Galaxy S24 FE supply near-flagship performance, however at $600 or extra, they’re edging into premium territory. Depending on your area, you may additionally have entry to strong choices from manufacturers like Xiaomi.

Still, the Pixel 9a hits a candy spot, providing premium-level energy at a worth that’s nonetheless inside attain of the budget-conscious.

I haven’t stated a lot about the ultra-affordable Moto G and G Power right here as a result of, nicely, their extraordinarily reasonably priced method clearly can’t sustain with the costlier competitors. That stated, the phones additionally solely supply two years of OS upgrades, that means that performance doesn’t must stretch as far over the cellphone’s lifetime earlier than you’d in all probability contemplate an improve.

However, I’m undecided this actually helps Moto as a result of you’d must buy three fashions to obtain the identical size of help, blowing previous an equal spend on a Pixel or Nothing Phone. For that money, you can get pleasure from far superior performance as we speak and never have to fret about a substitute for years to return.

Of course, the Moto G sequence stays undeniably low cost, which can at all times have its attraction, however for the long run, I’d actually advise in opposition to shopping for one. Buy the Nothing Phone 3a as a substitute.